RETAIL BUYER

Company Overview: South Moon Under is a fashion forward company that offers an eclectic mix of women's and men's clothing, swimwear, accessories, jewelry, and gifts for the home. At South Moon Under, our mission is summed up in four words – love. create. drive. imagine. We love this tribe - We create and curate beautiful things - We drive to be our best and we inspire others to tap into their power - We imagine and execute on our visions every day. Our history – originating as a small surf shop in 1968, South Moon Under has evolved into a national fashion retailer with 25+ stores in the US with growth planned for new stores to be added. We are building a vibrant, diverse team of creative, friendly, skilled and passionate people who want to work hard and win even harder. We value our employees and we enable them to deliver their best work. If you want to work for a company where we drive for success every day, without compromising human connection, you’ve found your team! 

Position Summary: The Retail Buyer is responsible for building an exciting and balanced assortment that will meet or exceed sales and gross margin plans for their specified departments.  The Merchant will partner with planning to develop seasonal and monthly assortment strategies that will drive growth in sales and increase profitability.  They are expected to shop the market and develop private label merchandise that aligns with customer demographic and business trends.  In addition, this person will have high financial acumen and be fashion savvy to use both data analytics and fashion intuition to drive results.   This individual is responsible for the successful development, execution, and communication assortment strategies.  

Financial Duties:

• Partner with planning on the development of annual, seasonal, monthly, and weekly financial plans.
• In collaboration with planning assign product valuations based upon historical data, current trend, and future events.
• Analyze weekly and monthly sales, inventory, and receipt plans to drive sales and minimize markdowns.
• Communicate a point-of-view on product supported by facts.
• Provide expert analysis on trends and recommendations to drive cancellations, future purchases, and assortment strategies.
• In collaboration with planning, manages the weekly open-to-buy including receipt adjustments, IMU and markdowns.

Product Duties:

• Create and implement merchandise strategies that support financial plans.
• Shop monthly market and trade shows to select, edit, and build a balanced assortment that meet customer’s demand.
• Build private label assortment through collaboration with key vendors.
• Drive all aspects of the product life cycle; identifying style, negotiating cost, assigning retail, managing style changes and delivery with vendors.
• Manage SKU & style intensive businesses and manage location intensive assortments.

Leadership Duties:

• Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with internal and external sources.
• Work with cross functional team members to ensure that the original vision /intent for product is executed.
• Collaborate with store teams to refine knowledge of customer needs.
• Maintain an on-going development and mentorship of direct reports.

Job Required Knowledge, Skills and Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Fashion Merchandising or a related field.
• 3-5 years merchandising, planning, buying, or equivalent experience in the retail industry preferred.  
• Ability to understand customer demographic and to identify appropriate product that will appeal to the customer.
• Strong understanding of retail math and measure used in financial reporting.

Location: Annapolis, MD (Relocation assistance may be considered).

Disclaimer: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. South Moon Under maintains the right to modify all or part of any job description at its discretion to meet and or exceed the needs of the business.